Arguing that equality is often the most potent rival of liberty, this work demonstrates how the dense tangle of government regulations both supports and threatens our personal freedoms. It is illustrated with examples from contemporary life.

In asking how the modern welfare state has redefined our notion of individual liberty and whether we are free to express ourselves in speech, at work or through sex, one of America's most esteemed legal scholars gives an impassioned defence of liberty. Arguing that equality is often the most potent rival of liberty, Charles Fried demonstrates how the dense tangle of government regulations both supports and threatens our personal freedoms. Richly illustrated with examples from contemporary life, "Modern Liberty" is relevant to the experiences and needs of everyday people. Armed with Fried's insights, readers will be better able to defend themselves against those on both the left and the right who would limit their liberty to promote virtue, equality or the greatness of the nation. "Modern Liberty" has profound implications for the societies in which we live now.